TECH NOW: Add a media player to help cut the cable cord

Jul. 14, 2013
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The Roku 3. / Roku - AP

by Jennifer Jolly, Special for USA TODAY

by Jennifer Jolly, Special for USA TODAY

If you're a cord cutter who still wants to watch TV on your giant screen in your living room, you need a set-top box to get your favorite content right where you want it. Before you panic over adding yet another gadget to your living room, we'll start by saying that you can spend as little as $50 to add streaming services to your television - though you may also find that you already have a gadget that can do the job.

WHAT'S IN YOUR ENTERTAINMENT CENTER?

Before you buy anything, take a quick look at the gadgets you already own. It's a good bet that the average household already has something that can easily handle streaming to your tube. First: check out your TV, as well as any DVD or Blu-ray players. (Still stuck with that VCR you never got the clock working on? You're out of luck.) The newer they are, the more likely they are to have some "smart" feature that allows them to connect to your Wi-Fi network and stream movies and television shows from popular services like Netflix and Hulu.

The next place to check is gaming consoles: The PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii and Wii U will all stream Netflix and Hulu. If you don't have one of these, don't necessarily rush out to buy one. New models of PlayStation and Xbox are coming out by the end of the year, both of which will have more living room-friendly features than current models. So if you'd like to buy a game console with home entertainment in mind, wait a few more months on the upcoming PlayStation 4 or Xbox One.

MEDIA STREAMERS

There's a much more economical way to add streaming features to your existing entertainment center than buying a new TV or gaming console: a streaming media set-top box. These gadgets run around $100. Installation is as simple as plugging them in. Though there are a lot of options on the market, my favorites are Roku and Apple TV. Both offer streaming from all of my favorite services, as well as super-simple setup, which makes them an easy choice for your home entertainment center.

ROKU. If you want to watch online streaming content on your television, a Roku device is the best way to get at it. Just plug it into your television, connect it to your Wi-Fi network, and suddenly your TV has access to a wealth of new entertainment options. It includes the three biggest streaming services - Hulu, Netflix and Amazon Instant - as well as a wealth of smaller services to help you access whatever content you're after. So if you want to watch Crackle, Vudu, PBS (and PBS Kids), Blockbuster on Demand, and more, Roku's got it. Sports lovers will also find themselves with plenty of options, including MLB, NBA, UFC, NHL, MLS and more.

I'm especially fond of the recently released Roku 3, which retails for $100. In addition to being a streaming powerhouse, the Roku 3 lets you plug headphones into the remote, so you can enjoy your favorite shows without bothering others in the household. However, if you don't want to spend that much, you can find a last-generation Roku - which offers just as many streaming options - for around $50.

APPLE TV. If you're an Apple addict, you may be sold on just the name. However, Apple's product is compelling on its own - at least as long as you're already an avid Apple user. Apple TV is a lot like Roku - the two gadgets are even about the same size and shape. Apple TV provides access to the content you're most likely to want: Netflix and Hulu with MLB, NBA and NHL for sports lovers. It doesn't offer the variety Roku has, but it offers one thing Roku doesn't: iTunes compatibility. If you use iTunes to buy movies or television shows, it's easy to watch those on your TV with an Apple TV and just not possible on Roku. Additionally, the device supports AirPlay, which lets you turn your TV into a second screen for your iPad, iPhone, iPod touch or even MacBook.

If you're not an Apple user, go with Roku, hands down. But if you have a tendency to use Apple products and purchase iTunes content, Apple TV has a definite edge over the competition.

You're all set. Hopefully we've answered most of your questions and concerns, and given you a solid how-to when it comes to cutting the cable cord. Be sure to let us know if you have any other thoughts on the topic.

Jennifer Jolly is an Emmy Award-winning consumer tech contributor and host of USA TODAY's digital video show TECH NOW. E-mail her at techcomments@usatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter: @JenniferJolly.